Dodge Dakota Complaints (1997)

446 consumer complaints on file.

#10145933December 22, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TWO DRIVER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF. THESE TWO BOLTS WHERE HOLDING ON THE HEAT SHIELD. THE HEAT SHIELD DROP DOWN AND WEDGED IT SELF BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND STEERING SHAFT. THE STEERING SHAFT IS NOW SCORED. THE ONLY REASON I FOUND THIS WAS THAT I KNOW WHAT AN EXHAUST LEAK SOUNDS LIKE AND WENT SEARCHING. IF I DIDN'T I WOULD HAVE NEVER FOUND IT UNTIL MY STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143107November 18, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE MODEL YEAR OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142756November 15, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
SUSPENSION, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND SHOCKS REPLACED - 60K MILES. RECALL ON 2000 AND UP BUT PROBLEM WITH 97 AND UP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142249November 9, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT STATED DEALER REPLACED BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS IN 2003. UPON INSPECTION THIS YEAR IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY ACCUMULATED 16,500 MILES SINCE THEY WERE LAST REPLACED. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS COMPLETED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT REPLACEMENT OF THE BALL JOINT WILL BE DONE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE FELT THEY WERE DEFECTIVE BASED ON THE LIMITED MILEAGE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137549September 25, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
AFTER READING ABOUT BALL JOINT FAILURE ON DAKOTAS AND DURANGO'S I CHECKED MY 1997 DAKOTA WITH 43000 MILES AND FOUND ALL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT SEALS TORN OPEN AND NO GREASE IN THE IN THE BALL JOINT SOCKET. THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY GREASE EVER IN OR AROUND THE BALL JOINTS. THE JOINTS ARE STARTING TO RATTLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136368September 13, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY
I NOTICED ANOTHER COMPLAINT DATED 3/1/2004 AS THE FAIL DATE AND AN INTERNAL USE DATE OF 7/6/2005 OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE PAINT ON THE ROOF OF THE CAB STARED PEELING OFF AND PAINT ON VARIOUS OTHER AREAS OF THE TRUCK. THE BUMPER WAS THE FIRST TO GO. I WOULD SAY THIS STARTED ABOUT AFTER THE TRUCK WAS 4-5 YEARS OLD. I ONCE HAD THIS HAPPEN ON A TWO YEAR OLD NISSAN TRUCK AND NISSAN REPAINTED THE ENTIRE TRUCK AN SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVELY PAINTED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134173September 9, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
OCT. '04 BROUGHT TRUCK IN FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND WAS TOLD THE CONTROL ARM AND UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACING AT A COST OF $1,000. FOR SAFETY I HAD THE FRONT END FIXED. YOU HAVE ORDERED RECALLS FOR SIMILAR FAILURES IN THE 2000-03 DAKOTAS. THE 1997'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131848August 7, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA FAILED WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES ON THEM. I REPLACED THEM MYSELF WITH MOOG GREASABLE BALL JOINTS. I STILL HAVE THE OLD PARTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127699July 6, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY
PAINT BEGAN BUBBLING ABOUT A YEAR AGO ON THE ROOF OF THE CAB. SINCE THEN EVERY SINGLE PANEL ON THE VEHICLE(HOOD, ROOF, FRONT 1/4 PANELS, DOORS, CAB BODY, AND REAR FENDERS) ALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE SPOT WHERE PAINT HAS BUBBLED AND PEELED. SOME SPOTS AS BIG AS A FOOT IN DIAMETER AND GROWING. THIS IS NOT RANDOM. I MEAN EVERY BODY PART HAS PAINT JUST "LETTING GO". THIS IS AN OBVIOUS CASE OF POOR PAINTING PROCEDURES AND IS SEEN IN MANY OTHER MAKES AND MODELS FROM DODGE IN THIS SAME TIME FRAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127697July 6, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BEGAN SMELLING FUEL WHILE AT IDLE OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF. IF VEHICLE WAS LEFT SHUT OFF FOR 30 MINUTES OR SO THE SMELL WOULD SUBSIDE AND CEASE. VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TAKING SEVERAL SECONDS OF CRANKING TO START WHICH ADDED TO THE CASE THAT FUEL WAS ESCAPING FROM THE PRESSURIZED FUEL LINE WHILE SITTING. I OBSERVED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER TRUCK ON DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE IN THE CAB REGION AND UPON CLOSER INSPECTION FOUND THE METAL FUEL LINE SHOWED EVIDENCE OF RUBBING AGAINST UNDER SIDE OF CAB BODY AND WAS SPRAYING FUEL TOWARD CENTER OF TRUCK AND HAD THE UNDER SIDE OF TRUCK CAB WET IN ABOUT A 2 FOOT SQUARE. FUEL LINE SHOWS NO EVIDENCE OF BEING IMPACTED AND IS STILL HELD IN ROUTING AND SECURING CLAMPS UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE ORIGINAL ROUTING OF FUEL LINES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126409June 23, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 485 AT CHARLOTTE, NC AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO COLLSION. WENT TO DEALER AND ALL THEY WANTED TO DO WAS CHARGE ME 2700.00 TO FIX THE AIRBAGS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122058May 24, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
BADBALL JOINTS ON 1997 DODGE DAKOTA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119020May 23, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR IN FOR STATE INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO CORROSION. *NM UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED BY DEALER AT 34,000 MILE. AT STATE INSPECTION IN 2004 THE UPPER AND LOWER JOINTS WERE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER RECALLED THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE BUT ONLY MODEL YEAR 2000. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121315May 18, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
ON FEB. 21, 2005, WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WITH INFANT DAUGHTER. REALIZED SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT AND SLOWED TO 2 MPH IN 1ST GEAR. CAME UP ON 9% GRADE WITH 4 S-TYPE CURVES. ENTERED 1ST CURVE AT 2 MPH, TRUCK RAN OFF ROAD, COULD NOT KEEP IT ON ROAD. GOT IT BACK ON ROAD ONLY TO COMPLETELY LOSE CONTROL AND ENDED UP ON OTHER SIDE OF ROAD IN A PARKING AREA (STOPED SIDEWAYS). TRUCK WAS PUT ON ROLLBACK AND SENT TO RAMEY DODGE (PRINCETON, WV) THE NEXT MORNING. THEY KEPT TRUCK UNTIL THAT EVENING, COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. PARKED TRUCK UNTIL FRIDAY 2/25/05, FATHER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO HAVE FRONT END ALIGNMENT. WAS INFORMED THE WHEELS WERE READY TO FALL OFF AND TRUCK NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON WRECKER. MY FATHER DROVE THE TRUCK TO PRINCETON WHERE HE WAS TOLD IT NEEDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. THEY KEPT MY TRUCK FOR ALMOST A WEEK. TOTAL REPAIR BILL $811.00. DAD DID NOT GET BALL JOINTS THAT WERE TAKEN OFF. I CALLED BACK TO GET THEM AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD DISPOSED OF THEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120172May 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, WITH THE ONLY WARNING BEING THE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE, WHILE BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117490April 5, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE, DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY DID NOT WORK AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE LEFT SIDE SEAT BELT CAME APART. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK, AND KNEE INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK...DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION NOTIFIED CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT VERIFY ANY TYPE OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE AND DENIED CONSUMER'S CLAIM. A POLICE REPORT WAS ON FILE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10115484March 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AT 30 MPH BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIRS SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MAIN BRAKE LINE, WHICH LEADS TO THE REAR BRAKES, RUSTED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068539March 15, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS WORE OUT COMPLETELY. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WHEELS WILL FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113949March 11, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY
ALLDATA HAS PROVIDED ME WITH INFORMAYION ON MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA C/ CAB, IT SHOWS A GENERAL RECALL WITH A TBA # 727 FOR PAINT CHIPPING. I ALSO HAVE INFORMATION THAT THE SAME YEAR AND FACTORY VIN # HAS A RECALL ON THE SAME CONDITION OF THE PAINT BUT ONLY FOR RED TRUCKS, MINE HAPPENS TO BE GREEN. BUT THE PAINT ON MY TRUCK IS PEELING LIKE A 30 YEAR OLD HOUSE. THE PRIMER IS FINE, WHICH FROM TALKING TO OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE AUTO PAINTING BUSINESS HAVE INFORMED ME THAT IF THE PRIMER IS NOT CLEANED OR DRIED PROPERLY BEFORE THE PAINT IS LAID DOWN, IT WOULD CAUSE THE PAINT TO LATER CHIP AND PEEL, LIKE MINE DOES. I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN HAVING DODGE LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113848March 9, 2005
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND TRYING TO AVOID A DEER CONSUMER SWERVED AND VEHICLE ENDING UP CRASHING INTO A FENCE. UPON IM[PACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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